Table 1.

Definitions of priority levels by service area (neurodevelopmental, orthopedic)

Physiotherapy Outpatient Service Area & Priority Level	Target for child to be seen by therapist	Description: Infant, child or youth referred due to the impairments listed below
Neurodevelopmental 1	3–5 working days	Acute illness/injury or acute exacerbation of existing problem; for example: brain injury, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, spinal cord injury, oncologic diagnosis, post-op neurosurgery
Neurodevelopmental 2	2–4 weeks	Under 2 years of age with neurological impairment; for example: abnormal muscle tone, delayed motor development Toe walking with neurological involvement
Neurodevelopmental 3	4–8 weeks	Older than 2 years of age with mild motor dysfunction Older than 2 years with neurological impairment or developmental delay, for whom no other resources exist
Orthopedic 1	1–3 working days	Surgery involving joint or muscle/tendon unit, especially hands Potential/actual reflex sympathetic dystrophy Intra-articular fracture, fracture dislocation Newly diagnosed arthritis/rheumatological condition Newborn brachial plexus
Orthopedic 2	1–2 weeks	Torticollis and/or plagiocephaly Musculoskeletal injury or pain: recent onset less than 3 months Decreased range of motion following fracture or joint injury
Orthopedic 3	3–4 weeks	Musculoskeletal injury or pain: long-standing (more than 3 months) Metatarsus adductus, intoeing, toewalking less than 4 years of age Spinal deformity, with brace